ORHS track and field season begins

The Oak Ridge High School girls’ track and field team includes seniors Hannah Craig, Kristie Cunningham, Tiffany Potok and Mehak Vohra, along with juniors Toni Sheetz, Rachel Sherry, Lauren Smallwood, Tara Wilson and Samantha Wray.

As with any high school sports team, the upperclassmen are the basis of the team as the season begins and the younger athletes or athletes new to the team mature, gain experience and work their way into the line-up.

The returning upperclassmen provide a solid nucleus for the boys team, and with the addition of a large group of newcomers and underclassmen, this group looks to be competitive.

by Eddie AndersonSpecial to The Oak Ridger

The Oak Ridge High School girls’ track and field team includes seniors Hannah Craig, Kristie Cunningham, Tiffany Potok and Mehak Vohra, along with juniors Toni Sheetz, Rachel Sherry, Lauren Smallwood, Tara Wilson and Samantha Wray.

As with any high school sports team, the upperclassmen are the basis of the team as the season begins and the younger athletes or athletes new to the team mature, gain experience and work their way into the line-up.

The early season goal for the girls team is to determine the best relay combinations, fill an across-the-board track and field team in all events, and find the individuals that have the athletic ability to place in the Top 8 in the TSSAA Sectional Meet on May 10.

Lauren Smallwood, Toni Sheetz and Tara Wilson return to lead the sprint group, along with hurdlers Tiffany Potok and Rachel Sherry. The distance group is young, but capable, with upperclassman Kristie Cunningham and Samantha Wray returning.

Hannah Craig advanced to the TSSAA State Meet in 2013 in the pole vault and she is off to a good start this year with her sights set on having another great season and advancing to the State Meet.

The girls relay teams will be a work in progress for the early part of the season as athletes step to the front of the training groups and gain a relay spot.

The returning upperclassmen provide a solid nucleus for the boys team, and with the addition of a large group of newcomers and underclassmen, this group looks to be competitive.

The early season goal for the boys team is to solidify the returning sprint relay teams, and develop an across-the board track and field team, which is competitive in every event, as well as to determine the elite athletes that can place in the scoring spots at the TSSAA Sectional on May 10.

Seth Howell and Malik Hardy will be integral members of the relay teams, along with hurdlers Jared Gibson and Brandon Bonds.

The distance group is capable and experienced. The group is led by upperclassmen Riley Fitchpatrick and Wesley Robinson.

Malik Hardy (Long Jump), Aaron Morgan (Discus) and DJ Green (Shot Put) give the boys team a competitive athlete in three of the field events.

The boys team returns a solid nucleus of sprint relay members and a young group of returning 4x800 team members. There is potential to develop a competitive 4x400 team if the athletes prepare well throughout the season.